Bottom line is if Rip gets injured again then we are in big trouble. AA or Dixon are both fine in a reduced role off the bench but you can't rely on either of them for quality extended mins.

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I agree that the Pistons cannot afford an injury. They could win it all if everything clicked perfectly, but there is not a huge margin for error. They need everyone healthy and contributing, as well as the coaching staff doing its part. I can't wait for the playoffs!

There are other ways to look at it too. It's all well and good to say that any points from AA are a bonus, but as of now, he can't jumpers--AT ALL. And that has an effect on everyone else on the floor. Teams can sag off him to double the post or leave him open in the corner when they're trapping on the other side of the floor, and he simply cannot make them pay for it. I do hope he can do that in the future--he was a good scorer in college and people can certainly improve their jumpers in the NBA, as Stuckey has already done this season--but as of now, AA simply cannot hit ANY outside shots. Dixon is clearly a lot more reliable in that department.

On defense, AA is obviously bigger and stronger than Dixon, which is clearly an advantage for him. But he's also a rookie and more prone to get fouls called on him, especially in the playoffs.

AA does have good things about his game that I like. He works very hard and I'm confident that he'll get better; by this time next season, I'm willing to believe that he'll solidly be a better option than someone like Dixon. But as of right now, i.e. the playoffs that start in about 10 days, I simply don't see him being much better than Dixon. It seems to me that splitting the spot duty between one or the other in the upcoming playoffs, depending on matchups, might be the best way to go.

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Afflalo just hit three jumpers in a row, just two games ago. He needs to shoot more, to get comfortable shooting. But look, even if we simply don't have him shoot outside shots, he is still a threat to drive in. As long as he is surrounded by scorers, it should not matter much whether he can shoot or not. You do not need five scorers on the floor.

Whether Afflalo plays or not, Dixon playing is bad news. He is such a poor defender, it negates any good defense anyone else plays. No matter how good you are at D, it really does not matter if the other team is just going to ignore you and pick on someone like Dixon. Dixon also means our bigs get into foul trouble because he is so easily gotten by. Dixon improves the other teams outside shooting, because everyone is leaving their guy to help out Dixon. Its plain ugly.

One last thought. The same thought. If Afflalo does not play, and a lot, we are going nowhere in the playoffs. Without him, we just do not play enough defense to win. If Afflalo is taken out of the rotation for the first series, whether we play Toronto or Philly, we will lose in the first round.

I agree that the Pistons cannot afford an injury. They could win it all if everything clicked perfectly, but there is not a huge margin for error. They need everyone healthy and contributing, as well as the coaching staff doing its part. I can't wait for the playoffs!

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This is not true. And it is really an insult to our bench players. We did not lose the last two games due to Rip not playing. We lost them because of who did play. Dixon giving up way too many points. Theo maybe playing a bit too much just to get mintues. Hayes playing regardless of his poor D. Dyess playing the whole 1st quarter, just because he needs the work to stay sharp.

What you saw in the last two games: Starters barely interested in playing, out there getting their minutes. Bench players being given minutes just because they are vets. Dyess getting his minutes regardless of his performance. These last two games by no means are any poor reflection on the play of Afflalo. (Though Stuckey did have quite a bad stretch in the NY game, despite shining in the 4th quarter.)

And one more, thing, so far, Billups and Stuckey playing together has not worked. Stuckey and Afflalo playing together does work. But you have not seen any of Afflalo and Stuckey playing together as of late. Not any. So don't be too quick to judge our young bench players.

One last thought. The same thought. If Afflalo does not play, and a lot, we are going nowhere in the playoffs. Without him, we just do not play enough defense to win. If Afflalo is taken out of the rotation for the first series, whether we play Toronto or Philly, we will lose in the first round.

why do people refuse to acknowledge poor play from their pet players? willie green was eating afflalo up last night. he even got a fast break on AA because AA wasn't paying attention. and his shot is consistently short lately. dixon is a much worse defender but he's also a much better scorer (although he turns it over a lot more). i'm not advocating one over the other, just trying to state facts from the game that others seemed to have missed.

i want stuckey to continue driving...he HAS to learn how to finish at the rim sooner or later, and when he does we'll be all set. he is achieving a better balance - 6 assists last night, but there were times where he drove and foolishly put up a shot rather than kicking it out. but that takes time. he's had 5 or more FTs in his past 4 games, so he is getting some respect, and he might as well keep doing it so the referees know. plus he's shooting his FTs much more consistently now.

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I concur with your first statment hog which is why I have no favorites or pet players on this team. If a scrub or stud is stinking it up then we have to recognize it and lay the criticism on them if warranted. I recognize that we need the contrubutions of Max, AA, Stuckey , Dixon and Amir in the playoffs, but once those games start, no one other than Stuckey and Max will get more than 15 mins of PT and Hayes and Dixon will get more only if they are affective while out there.

The problem is that Flip's hook will be quicker than Jim Leylands if any of the guys under the age of 26 lay an egg while out there. The starters got a lot of rest and it will give Flip an excuse to play them 38-40 mins in the playoffs and over 40 if the games are tight or we are still behind midway thru the 3rd.....

As far your comments on Stuckey, I do want him to drive too, but I would rather see Tay, Billups and Rip follow that lead sometimes and do it too, as they should surely get the calls and more and 1 situations than Stuckey. If you have two players on your team hitting close to or over 90%, those guys should be going to the line a combined 20+ times a game...I am old school here and I saw Magic and Jordan steal and seal games and rings at the charity stripe in the 80's and 90's.

It did not matter who was on the floor last night. The Piston's D was shredded. The story of the game was the absolute ease that Philly scored with versus DET's O which couldn't get closer than 20' from the hoop. I don't think Dixon or Hayes had anything to do with it.

It did not matter who was on the floor last night. The Piston's D was shredded. The story of the game was the absolute ease that Philly scored with versus DET's O which couldn't get closer than 20' from the hoop. I don't think Dixon or Hayes had anything to do with it.

Aside from AA, Green beat Stuckey backdoor repeatedly.

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And if we face them in the second round AI2 and Green will beat Stuckey, AA and Dice repeatedly again......Also we will need to box out Sam Dalembert too, dude got 13 boards on our so called leapers...

why do people refuse to acknowledge poor play from their pet players? willie green was eating afflalo up last night. he even got a fast break on AA because AA wasn't paying attention. and his shot is consistently short lately. dixon is a much worse defender but he's also a much better scorer (although he turns it over a lot more). i'm not advocating one over the other, just trying to state facts from the game that others seemed to have missed.

i want stuckey to continue driving...he HAS to learn how to finish at the rim sooner or later, and when he does we'll be all set. he is achieving a better balance - 6 assists last night, but there were times where he drove and foolishly put up a shot rather than kicking it out. but that takes time. he's had 5 or more FTs in his past 4 games, so he is getting some respect, and he might as well keep doing it so the referees know. plus he's shooting his FTs much more consistently now.

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It's not lack of acknowledgement. It's not basing your opinion on one game. If AA doesn't play well in one game, it doesn't negate how well he's played ALL season.

There are other ways to look at it too. It's all well and good to say that any points from AA are a bonus, but as of now, he can't jumpers--AT ALL. And that has an effect on everyone else on the floor. Teams can sag off him to double the post or leave him open in the corner when they're trapping on the other side of the floor, and he simply cannot make them pay for it. I do hope he can do that in the future--he was a good scorer in college and people can certainly improve their jumpers in the NBA, as Stuckey has already done this season--but as of now, AA simply cannot hit ANY outside shots. Dixon is clearly a lot more reliable in that department.

On defense, AA is obviously bigger and stronger than Dixon, which is clearly an advantage for him. But he's also a rookie and more prone to get fouls called on him, especially in the playoffs.

AA does have good things about his game that I like. He works very hard and I'm confident that he'll get better; by this time next season, I'm willing to believe that he'll solidly be a better option than someone like Dixon. But as of right now, i.e. the playoffs that start in about 10 days, I simply don't see him being much better than Dixon. It seems to me that splitting the spot duty between one or the other in the upcoming playoffs, depending on matchups, might be the best way to go.

And if we face them in the second round AI2 and Green will beat Stuckey, AA and Dice repeatedly again......Also we will need to box out Sam Dalembert too, dude got 13 boards on our so called leapers...

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If you taped the game, rewatch the 3rd quarter. Some pretty good defense was played there, with Afflalo doing a fine job on Greene.

It's not lack of acknowledgement. It's not basing your opinion on one game. If AA doesn't play well in one game, it doesn't negate how well he's played ALL season.

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that's what i meant. these are game threads, so why not acknowledge when a player has an off-night in those threads? i'm not talking overall. look, i love afflalo's defense and he's played great against some awesome players, without knowing their tendencies or anything. but green lit him up in the 1st quarter, and i was the 1st (and only) person to say something about it.

that's what i meant. these are game threads, so why not acknowledge when a player has an off-night in those threads? i'm not talking overall. look, i love afflalo's defense and he's played great against some awesome players, without knowing their tendencies or anything. but green lit him up in the 1st quarter, and i was the 1st (and only) person to say something about it.

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Point taken. I think it's maybe because he is usually great defensively, and there are others that are really bad, it just doesn't get mentioned. I'm sure if it it's a few games in a row, ppl will start talking about it.

Also, Flip tends to favor the no defense offense player. AA slips in and out of the rotation with no real reason. That's probably why i feel the need to defend him. Same reason there was a huge outcry about Amir.

I actually do think there are situations Dixon would be useful in. I just don't trust Flip to make the right adjustments.

Point taken. I think it's maybe because he is usually great defensively, and there are others that are really bad, it just doesn't get mentioned. I'm sure if it it's a few games in a row, ppl will start talking about it.

Also, Flip tends to favor the no defense offense player. AA slips in and out of the rotation with no real reason. That's probably why i feel the need to defend him. Same reason there was a huge outcry about Amir.

I actually do think there are situations Dixon would be useful in. I just don't trust Flip to make the right adjustments.

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I haven't trusted his adjustments since he showed up at the palace in 2005...I am still waiting for him prove that he can coach a NBA team past round 3....but I am optimistic that this is the year.....

I haven't trusted his adjustments since he showed up at the palace in 2005...I am still waiting for him prove that he can coach a NBA team past round 3....but I am optimistic that this is the year.....

that's what i meant. these are game threads, so why not acknowledge when a player has an off-night in those threads? i'm not talking overall. look, i love afflalo's defense and he's played great against some awesome players, without knowing their tendencies or anything. but green lit him up in the 1st quarter, and i was the 1st (and only) person to say something about it.

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Warthog, not that your powers of observation are generally all that bad, but in this case, you are very mistaken.

Green only scored twice in the first quarter while Afflalo was in the game. Perhaps you failed to notice that Afflalo was taken out of the game five minutes in? One of those scores was Greene using a pick well and getting a quick shot off. Very hard to defend that. Greene was also hounded into a turn. And he had one layup. That is hardly lighting someone up.

You want to be fair, tell me how many times in this game Afflalo was burnt, then tell me how many times Dixon was burnt. This is a very fair comparison since they were both playing shooting guard minutes.

Now tell me how many times Afflalo let his man get inside, causing a guy to be open on the other team. Dixon? Now tell me how many times Afflalo let his guy get past him, and it resulted in one of our bigs having to foul. Dixon? I know the answers, do you?